Shearer himself. Now he was Shearer's equal.

"Go up and tackle Radway. He's jobbing for us on the Cass Branch.
He needs men for roadin', I know, because he's behind. You'll get a
job there."

"Where is it?" asked Thorpe.

"Ten miles from here. She's blazed, but you better wait for th'
supply team, Friday. If you try to make her yourself, you'll get
lost on some of th' old loggin' roads."

Thorpe considered.

"I'm busted," he said at last frankly.

"Oh, that's all right," replied the walking-boss. "Marshall, come
here!"

The peg-legged boarding-house keeper stumped in.

"What is it?" he trumpeted snufflingly.

"This boy wants a job till Friday. Then he's going up to Radway's
with the supply team. Now quit your hollerin' for a chore-boy for a
few days."

"All right," snorted Marshall, "take that ax and split some dry
wood that you'll find behind the house."